4 IV Flow Rates and Infusion Calculations Free Online FlashCards

How do you calculate an IV pump rate?

Divide the volume by the infusion time: $\text{Rate (mL/hr)}=\frac{\text{volume (mL)}}{\text{time (hr)}}$.

What pump rate infuses $750\text{ mL}$ over $6\text{ hr}$?

The pump rate is $\frac{750\text{ mL}}{6\text{ hr}}=125\text{ mL/hr}$.

How do you calculate infusion time from volume and pump rate?

Divide the volume by the pump rate: $\text{Time (hr)}=\frac{\text{volume (mL)}}{\text{rate (mL/hr)}}$.

How long does a $1{,}000\text{ mL}$ bag take at $125\text{ mL/hr}$?

It takes $\frac{1{,}000\text{ mL}}{125\text{ mL/hr}}=8\text{ hr}$.

How do you calculate infused volume from pump rate and time?

Multiply the pump rate by the infusion time: $\text{Volume (mL)}=\text{rate (mL/hr)}\times\text{time (hr)}$.

What does a tubing drop factor tell you?

The drop factor is the number of drops that equal $1\text{ mL}$; use the value printed on the specific tubing package.

How do you calculate a gravity infusion rate?

Multiply volume by the tubing drop factor, then divide by time in minutes: $\text{Rate (gtt/min)}=\frac{\text{volume (mL)}\times\text{drop factor (gtt/mL)}}{\text{time (min)}}$.

What is $6\text{ hr}$ in minutes for a gravity-rate calculation?

$6\text{ hr}\times60\text{ min/hr}=360\text{ min}$. Convert hours to minutes before calculating a gravity rate.

What gravity rate infuses $750\text{ mL}$ over $6\text{ hr}$ with $15\text{ gtt/mL}$ tubing?

The rate is $\frac{750\text{ mL}\times15\text{ gtt/mL}}{360\text{ min}}=31.25\text{ gtt/min}$, which rounds to $31\text{ gtt/min}$.

Why is a calculated gravity rate rounded to a whole drop?

Round the final gravity rate to the nearest whole drop because a gravity drip cannot deliver a fraction of a drop, unless the problem or local policy specifies otherwise.

What should you do when a dose is in mcg but concentration is in mg/mL?

Match concentration units to the ordered dose. If the dose is in mcg and concentration is in mg/mL, convert using $1\text{ mg}=1{,}000\text{ mcg}$.

How do you convert a weight-based order in mcg/kg/min to mL/hr?

For an order in mcg/kg/min, multiply the ordered dose by patient weight and $60\text{ min/hr}$, then divide by the matching final concentration to obtain mL/hr. Track units so they cancel to mL/hr.